Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 24 July 2023

1. Definitions

  1. Website: Refers to the online platform with the URL https://ecostart.co.za.
  2. Visitor: Any individual who accesses and interacts with the Website.
  3. Comments: Refers to any user-generated content left by Visitors in response to articles or posts on the Website.
  4. IP Address: An Internet Protocol address, a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
  5. Browser User Agent String: Information transmitted by a Visitor's web browser that helps identify the type and version of the browser being used.
  6. Gravatar Service: A service that allows users to create and manage profile pictures (avatars) associated with their email address.
  7. Cookies: Small data files stored on a Visitor's device that record certain browsing information and preferences.

2. Collection and Use of Information

  1. Comments: When Visitors leave comments on the Website, EcoStart collects the data shown in the comments form, as well as the Visitor's IP address and browser user agent string. This information is collected to aid in spam detection and for security purposes.
  2. Gravatar Service: If a Visitor leaves a comment and provides an email address, an anonymized hash of the email address may be provided to the Gravatar service to check for an associated profile picture. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available at https://automattic.com/privacy/.
  3. Media: EcoStart advises Visitors not to upload images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) to the Website to protect their privacy. Visitors should be aware that other users can download and extract any location data from images on the Website.
  4. Cookies: If a Visitor leaves a comment on the Website, they may opt-in to saving their name, email address, and website in cookies. These cookies are for convenience, so Visitors do not have to fill in their details again when leaving another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
  5. Login Cookies: Temporary cookies are set when a Visitor logs in to determine if their browser accepts cookies. Login information and screen display choices are also saved in cookies. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If a Visitor selects "Remember Me," their login will persist for two weeks. If they log out of their account, the login cookies will be removed.
  6. Edit or Publish Articles: When a Visitor edits or publishes an article, an additional cookie will be saved in their browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article the Visitor just edited. It expires after 1 day.

3. Embedded Content from Other Websites

  1. Embedded Content: Articles on the Website may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles, etc.) from other websites. This embedded content behaves in the exact same way as if the Visitor has visited the other website.
  2. Third-Party Websites: These third-party websites may collect data about Visitors, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor Visitor interactions with the embedded content if they have an account and are logged in to those websites.

4. Data Sharing

  1. Password Reset: If a Visitor requests a password reset, their IP address will be included in the reset email for security and verification purposes.

5. Data Retention

  1. Comments: If a Visitor leaves a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is to recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
  2. Registered Users: For users that register on the Website (if any), EcoStart also stores the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time, except they cannot change their username. Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

6. Data Rights

  1. Data Export and Erasure: If a Visitor has an account on the Website or has left comments, they can request to receive an exported file of the personal data EcoStart holds about them, including any data they have provided. Visitors can also request that EcoStart erases any personal data they hold about them. This does not include any data EcoStart is obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other applicable laws.

7. Data Transfer

  1. Automated Spam Detection: Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

8. Contact Information

  1. Contact: For any questions or concerns regarding this privacy policy, Visitors can contact EcoStart at info@ecostart.co.za.

9. Changes to this Privacy Policy

  1. Updates: EcoStart may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any updates to this policy will be posted on the Website, and the effective date will be revised accordingly.

10. Agreement

  1. Acceptance: By using the Website, Visitors agree to the terms outlined in this privacy policy.